United edge fiery Manchester derby

Updated 1700 GMT (0100 HKT) December 9, 2012

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Photos:United edge fiery Manchester derby

Passions run high – Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart of confronts a pitch invader at the end of his side's 3-2 derby defeat by Manchester United, whose defender Rio Ferdinand (at back) was left with a bloody face after being hit by a coin thrown from the crowd.

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Photos:United edge fiery Manchester derby

Beautiful game's ugly side – Police intervened to eject the invader, and the Greater Manchester force also announced after the match that another man was arrested inside City's Etihad Stadium on suspicion of chanting racist abuse.

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Photos:United edge fiery Manchester derby

Van the Man – The match was settled in the second minute of time added on by Manchester United's Dutch striker Robin Van Persie.

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Photos:United edge fiery Manchester derby

Hole in the wall – Manchester City midfielder Samir Nasri (left) diverted Van Persie's free kick past Hart as he backed off from his position in the defensive wall.

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Photos:United edge fiery Manchester derby

Rooney double – Wayne Rooney had put United 2-0 ahead inside half an hour, with the 27-year-old becoming the youngest player to score 150 goals in the English Premier League.

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Photos:United edge fiery Manchester derby

Turning point? – United should have gone 3-0 ahead just before the hour mark but Ashley Young's effort was ruled out in a marginal offside decision. City hit back immediately through midfielder Yaya Toure.

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Photos:United edge fiery Manchester derby

Zabaleta the savior? – Pablo Zabaleta, right, fired an equalizer in the 86th minute to give second-placed City hope of extending a 21-game unbeaten league run that went back to last season's title-winning climax.

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Photos:United edge fiery Manchester derby

Six-point gap – However, Van Persie's 11th EPL goal since signing from Arsenal for $38 million in August left City six points behind leaders United after 16 matches.